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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Police say it's likely that homeless man died from exposure ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area visits surge ... Feds seek forfeiture of guns and money tied to pot operation ... Police say it's likely that homeless man died from exposure ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area visits surge ... Feds seek forfeiture of guns and money tied to pot operation ... PUBLIC SAFETY Police say it's likely that homeless man died from exposure By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 4, 2016 @ 2:49 pm By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 4, 2016 @ 2:49 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Autopsy results are still pending for a 58-year-old man who was found dead in Hawthorne Park Saturday, but police say it appears he died of exposure in sub-20-degree weather. "That's just kind of the working theory," said Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau. Police said the man, identified as Kelly Ray Eisenberg, was found at 11:32 a.m. Saturday. A passerby spotted him lying in a horseshoe pit and called 911 for a welfare check. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. In a press release, Medford police said there was no evidence of foul play. The release also said police had had multiple contacts with Eisenberg in recent years, many of those involving "detox holds due to his intoxication level." The National Weather Service reported the nighttime low temperature was 19 degrees in Medford Saturday. Police said they believed Eisenberg, whom they knew to be homeless, was outside "for quite some time, perhaps overnight." "It's not that uncommon unfortunately," Budreau said of the circumstances of the death. "It happens once or twice a year, I would say." Two years ago, hypothermia claimed the life of a 29-year-old homeless man found dead on the railroad tracks behind a strip mall in the 800 block of South Central Avenue in Medford. Mickey Wilson, an Oklahoma native who has been been living homeless in the area for the past several months, said he doesn't think there are enough places for homeless people to stay during freezing weather. He recommended using vacant buildings in the city. "If they could open up some of those old buildings, it'd be nice," Wilson said. A tent city could also help, he added. In a lifestyle that comes with its share of danger — Wilson said he's been mugged four times since arriving here in August — the winter cold adds another layer. "This is a tough little town," Wilson said. Budreau said police typically refer anyone they find camping illegally to area organizations that shelter the homeless, including the Medford Gospel Mission, St. Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army Hope House and the Rogue Retreat. The urgency ticks up during the winter. "If we come across someone who is going to be in this type of situation where it's going to be freezing, we try and get them into some type of shelter," Budreau said, adding that people who are intoxicated are taken to a sobering center. "If they're a risk to themselves or others, then we need to do something about it." The latest death comes as a group called the Jackson County Homeless Task Force is working with local officials to develop more secure shelter options for the homeless in the Medford area. Options being considered include a tent city and a community of "tiny houses," structures typically ranging in size from 100 to 400 square feet. Zoning and potential conflicts with neighbors are among the issues being discussed. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 4, 2016 @ 2:49 pm » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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